Weeeeeeeeee’re baaaaack! After a long period with our ghost light lit, Master Mystery Productions is returning to live shows for Fall 2021, but we need actors to help us bring a brand-new mystery play to life! We’re planning a come-as-you’re-not costume party with a sneaky little caper thrown in to get our audiences (and performers) laughing and smiling. With slapstick, secret-swapping, ridiculous fake names, and a fabled treasure, this will be a show to get us all back into the spirit of theatre and being together. Want to join in on the fun? Then you are invited to attend…

A Come-As-You’re-Not Costume Party Caper

AUDITIONS

Friday and Saturday, July 30 and 31, 2021

4 to 6 p.m. at Red Rock Books (206 W. Ridgecrest Blvd.)
Ridgecrest, CA

Who’s Who? is a new production that reunites us with our favorite bookstore, Red Rock Books, for a fun, wacky, and wild mystery. Inspired by caper and heist stories like The Great Muppet Caper, It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, Rat Race with a smattering of The Westing Game thrown in for good measure, the story revolves around a bungling and ragtag group of strangers who are attempting a rather ludicrous heist of their own. Except they have no idea what they are trying take in the first place! There’s no strong language or violence; We wanted to focus on humor and hijinks for our mystery this time. We are styling the entire show as a classic costume party where guests can attend in any costume they wish while our band of actors tries to negotiate nefarious deeds dressed as pirates, royalty, flappers, and more. Our script has seven roles to fill with many of the parts gender neutral, so they can be played by anyone!

We welcome and encourage actors of all types and levels of experience to audition. We are open to everyone! If you’ve never been in a play before, don’t worry. We provide all the training, tips, and tricks to help you be ready and feel confident for opening night. Our goal is to make your show a fantastic memory for the rest of your life.

Actors need to be age 13 and older to audition. Those under 18 will need a parent/guardian signature on a permission slip AND a parent/guardian MUST attend any and all rehearsals their child attends. Actors will be paid for their work.

The show performs November 5, 6, 12, and 13 at 7:30 p.m. at Red Rock Books.

During auditions, everyone will fill out an audition form which will ask for basics such as name, email, experience, availability, etc. These are just basics to give us an understanding on who the performer is as well as contact information. Then we pair up performers for cold readings of selected scenes from the original script by Daniel Stallings. Rehearsal schedule will be finalized after auditions based on actor availability. Rehearsals would run from August to November. After auditions, casting emails will be sent out to everyone who auditioned for the show.

If you are unable to attend the posted audition dates, but are still interested in trying out, message us on Facebook or email us at mastermysteryproductions@hotmail.com to schedule an outside audition.

SYNOPSIS

Wealthy and eccentric Great-great Aunt Gladys Honeypot has finally moved on to a better place…to Las Vegas where she can live it up in her golden years! Aunt Honeypot was famous for her unusual tricks, pranks, and behavior. Like the legend of her giving a priceless treasure to her favorite bookstore as “a token of her boundless appreciation” …which then turns several not-so-honest eyes on the bookstore as a target. When the store hosts a special “Who’s Who Come-as-You’re-Not Costume Party,” a ragtag collection of people decide it’s the perfect occasion to come as they’re not to liberate the store of this priceless treasure. But in a world where nothing is as it seems and no one is who they say they are, finding the treasure will be one wild, madcap adventure. Alliances will be made and broken, and someone might just double-cross the double-crossers. Who are these people? Where is the treasure hidden? And just what is the treasure? These are the mysteries you get to solve as you tangle with screwball secrets, slapstick suspects, and hilarious hijinks, because in this costume party caper, everyone has something to hide.

CAST OF CHARACTERS

GLADYS HONEYPOT — A woman of unusual taste and unusual wealth who liked playing games, throwing parties, and the odd practical joke here and there, she holds controlling interests in the family business, the lucrative Honeypot Sweets Company. An eccentric regarding her personal fortune, her current will leaves all her money and holdings to a school for dentistry and orthodontics while her jewelry and other possessions are “up for grabs.” Legend tells that one of her priceless treasures was given to her favorite bookstore as a token of her appreciation. Offstage.

MESSRS. BUBBLE AND SQUEAK — Two seemingly stodgy, stiff-upper-lip British solicitors (lawyers) with a habit of completing each other’s sentences who seemingly represent the dentistry school Aunt Honeypot is leaving her money to. But something isn’t quite tea-and-crumpets about this strange duo. Maybe it’s the fact they don’t know what a solicitor does… Two separate characters, can be played by any gender.

BERNARD ST. BERNARD — Fast-talking, sharp-eyed businessman who is hovering like a vulture over Aunt Honeypot’s interests and holdings in her grandmother’s lucrative candy company, Honeypot Sweets. At least, that’s what people assume since he talks so fast and slick that no one knows really what he’s saying. Until their signature is already on the bottom line. But now he might have bitten off more than he can chew…

MERCEDES VAN CHRYSLER — Bernard St. Bernard’s loyal and efficient assistant who is usually found vigorously taking notes in her notepad, mysterious notes that don’t seem to follow any form of shorthand. An obsessed word puzzle fan, it seems like Mercedes is more interested in crosswords and anagrams than in business negotiations. And her employer doesn’t seem to mind all that much.

GEORGIA AND GEORGINA GEORGSON — Two of a set of fraternal triplets—their brother, George, unable to attend for a variety of outlandish reasons—these silly sisters and good-time gals who even mix themselves up are on a whirlwind trip across the country to see all the sights and whose relationship to Aunt Honeypot seems as confused as their itinerary. They even seem unable to agree on why they are at the party in the first place. Certainly has nothing to do with the treasure they’ve heard so much about. Certainly not. Two separate characters.

MR(S). MEDDLER — A quiet, background character with a pleasant face and pleasant attitude, Meddler just seems to always be in the right place and the right time to hear something absolutely awkward. With this perfect timing, it’s no wonder they seem to know everything about the guests at this party, even things the guests would rather keep hidden. Perhaps the most dangerous player in this wacky game. Role can be played by any gender.

Who’s Who? is designed to be hilarious, escapist entertainment to keep you smiling and laughing throughout the night. But also keep you guessing. Because Master Mystery Productions always believes in giving you a great mystery as well. But we need people to make this adventure possible! Come and audition for Who’s Who? and join us for a brand new mystery. We would be delighted to work with you. Let’s have some fun!

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to message us on Facebook or email us at mastermysteryproductions@hotmail.com.

–Master Mystery Productions